Load handling apparatus



1958 F. s. PEARNE LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Skeet 1 Filed Aug. 17, 1953 INVENTOR. .F/INK .5. PEAQNE,

Jan. 14, 1958 F. s. PEARNE 2,819,373 I LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS iled Aug. 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORA .FA/VK 5. PEAQNE,

LOAD HANDLING APPARATUS Frank S. Pearne, Alhambra, Calif., assignor to Regent Jack Mtg. (10., Downey, Calif., a corporation of California Application August 17, 1953, Serial No. 374,543

3 Claims. (Cl. 254-148) This invention has to do with load handling apparatus, and it is a general object of the invention to provide apparatus including an extensible support and means carried by the support adapted to operate the support and engageable with work or with a load to either move and/or support it.

There are various situations where work or objects require support and may require movement or lifting to a position where they are to be supported. An example of such a situation is present in the aircraft industry where, for example, an element of a heavier than air craft, such as a wing, may, while the craft is on the ground, require support, either merely a stabilizing support or possibly a complete bearing of the member, and in such a case, it is sometimes necessary to move or elevate the wing somewhat.

It is, of course, recognized that jacks are commonly used with the general class or type of service referred to; however, the ordinary jack construction, unless exceedingly large, cumbersome and expensive, is not practical for the service mentioned, and the ordinary jack construction is, for this type of service, impracticable as its travel or range of operation is ordinarily very little.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a load handling apparatus serviceable wherever a load is to be supported or moved and characterized by an extensible support carrying an operating means by which the support is operated and serviceable to engage the load to either load it or to move it relative to the support following extension of the support.

Another object of this invention is to provide a load handling apparatus of the general character referred to wherein there is an extensible support in the nature of a tripod which support includes drive means by which it is operable from a collapsed to an extended position and includes lock means whereby it can be set in an extended position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a leg construction for apparatus of the general character referred to characterized by relatively movable sections and mechanical drive means serviceable to operate the sections relative to each other, the construction as a whole being simple and inexpensive for manufacture and practical and dependable in operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the general character referred to characterized by various improved, practical and efifective combinations and arrangements of parts which serve to provide a mechanism effective in service and simple and conventient to operate.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus provided by the present invention showing the support in an ex- 2,819,873 Patented Jan. 14, 1958 tended position and located ready for service and showing the shiftable member provided by the operating means in an extended position where it is engageable with the work or load to move it relative to the support. A portion of the parts shown in this figure are broken away and shown in sections. Fig. 2 is a view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, being a view taken substantially as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1. portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1 showing the connecting means between the shiftable member of the operating means and the drive means in the legs engaged and operating. Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detailed, vertical, sectional view taken at the lower end of the leg included in the apparatus at the outer end of an arm related to that leg showing details of construction employed to connect the arm and the leg. Fig. 5 is a view taken substantially as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged, longitudinal, sectional view of the leg of the structure showing its upper end connected to the head of the structure and its lower end connected to an arm and support, the leg being shown in a retracted or collapsed position. Fig. 7 is an enlarged, detailed, transverse, sectional view taken substantially as indicated by line 7-7 on Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged, detailed view of the apparatus, being a view taken substantially as indicated by line 8-8 on Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of the construction that I, provide and taken substantially as indicated by line 99 on Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is an enlarged, detailed, sectional view illustrating one of the lock means included in the structure. Fig. 11 is an enlarged view taken substantially as indicated by line 1111 on Fig. 1, and Fig. 12 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 8, being a view taken substantially as indicated by line 1212 on Fig. 8 and showing certain parts broken away to show in sections.

The structure as provided by the present invention may, in practice, be employed or used in service as a mere support or a rest or it may be employed as a jack or as a combined jack and support. It is preferred in carrying out the invention to embody it in a leg type structure characterized by an adjustable or extensible legconstruction. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a plurality of legs are provided, say for example, three of these legs are cooperatively related to form a structure which is in the nature of a tripod. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, there is a tripod construction characterized by like legs A connected to a common head B and each connected to a ground engaging support C. Each leg includes a plurality of relatively movable sections, for instance, they are telescopically related. In the case illustrated, each leg is shown as including, an upper end section 10, a lower end section 11, and a plurality of intermediate sections 12. Each leg, including the sections just named, includes drive means 13 between and connecting adjacent sections to effect relative movement thereon and therebetween.

The general construction further includes a base D characterized by a central hub 14 and a plurality of radially projecting arms, each of which has its outer end connected to the lower end portion of the leg. In the particular case illustrated, each arm includes an inner section 15, an outer section 16, and an intermediate section 17, the sections being relatively movable or telescopically related so that the arm construction is subject to being extended or adjusted.

The present invention provides an operating means E characterized by a member 18 adapted to move relative to the legs or to the head to which the legs are connected, and in the preferred form of the invention, a fluid pres- Fig. 3 is a view of a quent: simultaneous; operation of) the several legs :Of; the 1;

structure;..

The;.invention;provides;a column G;betWeen and coni necting the.,ba se;;D,and,the,means, E. Further, eachrleg preferably, includes lock, means 23-; adapted -.to lock; the-,, ge fi nsasain flr l ive mc em ne ndst e a msl of e- D mp clude. lock;meansl iadaptedr od ckjthev m-.s chp eiasainst rela iv tmoyem e n hepref rr dw QHQ QQ }t sws ltlmi s G i q l e 1a.tiv y ova l qt ne. f r i s anc a l w rts on a tleamnppe ati n-A ns e .9 means .27 s ov sdv '.l c e e: stifms 5 5. 6 ins at wemrs eats d.wh ck e t s a t m vemen e atit st t em ans CdHi'sideriHg s w tisn m e s esifical yre h e is a straight,'..rigidQnjechanisinrnade npofsthegsections 10,- 4; 11,; and .12 (if tth'e drive .means 112 ,and of the lockmeans =2 th wi t n ti nz l strat d? p vo pi 3 -pmevidedfto connecttheupper end of therupper, end section, 10 of 'eachfle ggo {the headfiBt ln the particular construction' illustrated, engaged or .over-lappingrlugs 31. and 32 project from the head .13 'and-leg section 10,. respectively, v; andQthie pin ,30;e rtends betweenandi gonnectsvthelugssv Thejilliiafillfimay be' an independent element, carrying the me'ansjfhr it'may rbe iformed as a. part of the means EM. it beingi in'letfecg a part, of the structure bywhic'hthe upp 'er' en'dsthe legsare connected to the means.E.'. When 'the structure; includes .three legs, it is preferable thatg they b'exconnectedto the head B so that they are equally fspa ced aboyej the vertical axis of the structure or, iniotherwords, so tha t they are spaced 120 apart.

Ina preferred form of the invention, auniversal joint mechanism 35"serves to connect the lowenend'of the lowerleg section to theground engaging support C. Inthe particular case illustrated, lugs 36 projectfrom the lower end of the end section 11 and carrya pivot pin 37 that supports a block 38'between the lugs 36. Lugs 39 project up from the support -C and .receive the block 38,

and pivot members 40 pivo'tally connect the lugs 39 and H theiblock; 38: The members 49 'are on an axis at right angles to that of the pivot ;37 with the result that the construction justdescribedprovides a universal connection between the support C and the lower end. of the leg related thereto.

In the-form of the invention illustrated, the leg sections varyin sizefrom one end to the'other'so that they will fit oneiinto thetne xt and'inthe caseillustrated, the largest leg section israt the upper end of the leg and the smallest at thelower'endlof the leg. The leg sections are preferably I straight, simple',-tubular elements,- round in cross section,- and,.theysare:telescopicallyrelated so that adjacent-leg: sectionsvaremovable'or shiftable relative to each other to efiectzvariationzof the l eg between aretracted position whereitis.oflimitedllength andin an extended position where it is. of substantial A length.

In carrying out the invention, should a leg c0nstruc-; tionbeemployed where there are but two relatively mov ablelleg, sections, there needs to be but-one drive means to etfect relativemovement by the leg-sections. Wherethe leg involves an elongate series-of leg sections as shownin the .drawings,.,a plurality of-drive means are employed;

one-.ineach-portiontoftheleg where sections adjoin. -In

the particular casenillustrated, there. is a drive means-13 acting between theupper end;section11fi and-theadjacent;

intermediate section 12, there is another'drivetmeans act-l ing between adjoining interm diatesections, landntherel is aiibth'er drivemeansl3 acting between the'lowermost intermediate. section andlthe lower. .end section -JI. {The I ral, i eme' asfi, e n p s i he eo st nc ioatar s portion thereofas,.for instance, by means of a pin 41 and extending downward; fromtltha't'pointto a parf42fatih'e lower end portion "of section ltl and having'a portionjfy extending up from the part 42 through the section lll'and from the' ruppenend :the'reofa-fon connection :to collar' (Fig. 3). In the construction. provided by the invention, the part 42 is a pulley on a pivot pin 43Iwhich pivot pin is supported by a carrier 44 that depends downwardly in the leg section 10 from the upper end portion thereof where it is held .byra;memben-45 in the :formof :a, plate fixed-ito ther-upper ,end :ofathe ilfigySGCllOl] 10,-

ofleg seetiont 12,- that is, by the'portion of the leg section:.-12;located withinnthegsectionvlltl. The pin 41; ex-

tends transversely of the section 12 and throughua longi, tudinal. slot; fiinlthewcarrien44 m1 that -the--pin-ex tends thn0ugh.the carriee-il l thesline.section x being anchored to flthejlpin: hwithimthexarrien 44: 1 The slot46-is of substantial lengtlnwandt the operation of the pin. 41 in 1 th8,;tS10Iz1l6 limitst'the relative-movement that can occur between ;-the' sectionss 10 and 12.;

In .the rpreferredeformeof eonstructi0n,;the carrier 44 r is substantially;,U-shapedein :CIOSSfSfiCllOIlQ'l configuration,

as shown-in Fig.3? ofthe drawings,;;so that it has a back 50 and sides 51 projecting from-'the-back' and spaced apartgaw ThBaPlVQt pin:;43 ;that,carries :thespart or; pulley 42 ;is.-carried-lby and;;extends;=betweenthe .projectingedgeportions of thesides-SL;

With ,the. construction-just described, when the. sections 1 10 -and l2eare-ntogetherscoriirra collapsed position, the; pin-41 is at the :upper. endpportion of :slot Whenthc line 40sis-yoperatedas@by-;the;means1:E'acting throughr thermeanstF, the portions thereof is movedupwardlyior pulled-tout of -the -.uppertend of leg section 10 with conser ll; downwardnmovementtof;thelanchored endotthe a line;held bygtheqpin; 41. Thistresultsrindownward move.-

ment,;.of thee-leg section-a12;relativea to. .leg 'sectionlll;

The Y driyel'nieanswE; connecting tor related, to .the two intermediate leg sections -1-2,;.;is, substantially the same .as

thez-me ns rlfivjust .describedsexcept. that. the lcarrienM supppnting the'tpulley e lzi instead. of being held bysa memben'in -.the:;form-ot.a; plate, ,is .heldxby the pin '41 i abovedscribed and thisrcarrieredf is lockedwithin. and slidfihlrelativeqto the :oarrier:-44 =above described. The pin;;,41 to which--.-;the line. 40 is anchored;. extcnds- 5 through a slot 46 in carrier 44 and operates in a-slot- 46% in carrien-lwand is supported; by the xupper end portion-of the:lowermost intermediatesection 12.1 The I, portion. of line i' 40% extending; up, from the pulley.42*,1

extendslupandris connected; to;or anchored. at thepin 43 carrying the pulley 42. to be thus :anch'oredata point;

which is ,ator above the upperrend portionxof therlowers most intermediate section 12.1;

Since the-carrier..44 ,-is ,connected to the uppermost intermediate-section-12 .by theepin 41, whent-the uppermost section. 12. movestdownzrelativezto section: 10;the-v pulley 42: oarriedby the1-carrier:44 -moves downwardly. i As pulley42%"is thusmoved downwardwrelativeto pulley 40 where line 40 is anchored, the lineAW-efiectsdowm wardmovementgof.the-lower section 12 as itmoves the pin .41; downward,= .andtthis.pinis anchored-to thelupper end. portionlo-t; thelow r-lsection, It is to be observed that-the; carrier; 44 MB: of; theesame; .shape: asthe carrie 44 but is smaller and-t fits in carrier; '44 to operate dongle i."

tudina-llylthereinm ln themase got; driveameans-alfi between: or connecting asiafsta the lowermost intermediate section 12 and the lower end section 11, the line 40 thereof is anchored to pin 41 extends down and around a pulley 42 and is anchored to the pin 43* carrying pulley 42 above described. In this case a carrier 44 is supported by or in the lower section 11 as by means of a plate member 45 at the lower end of section 11, while the pin 43' carrying pulley 42 is supported by a carrier 44 around carrier 44 and within the carrier 44 and secured against movement relative to the lowermost intermediate section 12 by the pin 44 From the foregoing description and from a consideration of Fig. 6 of the drawings, it will be immediately apparent that each of the means 13 in the leg are substantially alike both in construction and action except that the portion y of the line of the uppermost means 13 extends out of the leg at the upper end thereof instead of being anchored within the leg as is the case of the means 13 below the uppermost part. It will be observed from the drawings, particularly from Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, that the carriers supporting the pulleys within the leg are telescopically related and shiftable relative to each other, and being U-shaped in cross section, they accommodate the lines and handle the pulleys so that there is no interference between these parts. Through the construction provided, each section of the leg has a pulley carrier therein and connected or anchored thereto against movement lengthwise relative thereto.

The operating means E characterized by the member 13, which is adapted to shift relative to the legs A, is serviceable as a means effective to operate the means 13 incorporated in the legs and is also operable to handle a load or an object relative to the tripod type support formed by the legs. The means E is preferably an elongate structure located centrally of the tripod formed by the legs A, and it is vertically disposed as shown in the drawings. In the case illustrated the shiftable member 18 is in the form of a rod vertically disposed and adapted to be opera-ted through the head B to which the legs A are pivotally connected, and the fluid pressure actuated eans 19 is carried by and depends from the head 3 and operates the rod 18. The means E, in the case illustrated, includes a cylinder 69 fixed to and depending from head B and a piston 61 operating in cylinder 68 and having the rod or member 18 connected thereto. An end or cap 62 closes the lower end of the cylinder 69, and the fluid handling duct 21 is connected with the cylinder through the end 62. In practice, the construc' tion just described may be of any suitable length and may be such as to make possible the described movement or stroke of the member 18 relative to the head B to which the legs A are connected.

The pump 2&3 may, in practice, be located at any suitable point where it is accessible and convenient for operation. In the preferred construction, the pump 20 is located at or carried by the lower end portion of one of the legs A as by means of releasable brackets 65, and the pump includes a reservoir carrying a suitable supply of fluid and includes an operating member 66, such as a pedal or lever and, in practice, includes suitable valves and controls such as are common to structures of this type. The duct 21 is preferably a flexible member adapted to carry fluid and extends from the pump 28 to the hub 14 or" base D and then up through the column G to the means 19.

With the construction just described the pump 20 can be operated to force fluid therefrom to the cylinder 60 so that piston 61 is forced upwardly causing upward movement of member 18 relative to head B. The pump is operated or released to allow return of fluid from the cylinder to the pump, then the piston 61 can lower in the cylinder resulting in the lowering of member 18 relative to head B.

The means F provides a releasable connection between the lines 40 of the uppermost means 13 of the legs and the member 18. In the particular case illustrated, the means F includes a collar 7 t9 surrounding the member 18 and having the lines 40 from the legs adjustably anchored thereto. In the case illustrated, the collar has openings 71 passing the lines and screw clamps 72 are provided to set the lines against movement in the openings 71. The collar 70 is slidable on or shiftable longitudinally relative to member 18 and a means is provided for setting the collar in a selected position on the member 18. In the case illustrated, grippers or shoes 75 are carried by the collar and are adapted to be operated by screws 76 so that they can be moved into or out of engagement with the member 18. When the several grippers 75 are engaged with the member 18, the collar is locked on the member with the result that as the member 18 is moved relative to head B, the lines from the legs are moved.

Assuming, for example, that the several legs are collapsed and the member 18 is in a retracted or down position, the means F may be engaged so that the collar is set on the mmber 18 to move therewith, and the lines from the legs may be set or anchored to the collar. As the means 19 is then operated to force the member 18 upwardly relative to head B, the collar 70 carrying the lines from the legs will move upwardly with consequent operation of the leg sections so that the legs are extended. This operation results in an elevation of the means E relative to the support or at the lower ends of the legs. The construction may be such that a single operation of means 19 will effect the desired extension of the legs or it may be such that to gain the desired full extension of the legs, the means F is released after a full operation of means 19 and the lines are adjusted relative to the collar 70 following which a subsequent operation of the means 19 will cause further extension of the legs. In this case it may be necessary, as the step by step action is carried out, to lock the leg sections against relative movement whenever the means F is released.

In practice, the setting of the means F on or relative to member 18 may be supplemented by a lock means, for instance, a lock nut 80 which may be threaded on the member 18 and engageable with the collar whenever desired.

The base D serves, in efiect, to couple or connect the lower end portions of the several legs A, and in the preferred construction it includes the central hub 14 and the several arms 15 that extend radially from the hub. Where the construction includes three legs, the base D includes three corresponding arms 15. In the particular case illustrated, each arm 15 is tubular in form andincludes an inner section fixed to and projecting from the hub, an intermediate section 17 slidably engaged with and carried by the inner end section and an outer end section 16 slidably engaged with and carried by the intermediate section. Through this construction each arm can be varied as to length or extended as between a collapsed or retracted position where it holds the lower end of its related leg relatively close to the center of the structure and an extended position where the end of the leg is spaced a suitable and substantial distance from the center of the structure.

The invention provides a control means 86 in connection with each arm of the base and its related leg. In the construction illustrated, the control means 86 includes a control line 82 having one end anchored to the central portion of the base as, for instance, to the hub 14. The line 82 extends through the arm of the base over guide pulleys 83 and 84, the outer end of the arm and the lower end of the leg, respectively, and then up in the lower end section 11 of the leg to the upper end portion thereof where it is engaged over a guide pulley 85 from which it extends down to the lower end of the carrier 44 at which point it is anchored as at 88. This construction is shown in the drawings, particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, from which it will be apparent that as the leg variesinlengthio ris operated, the efiective length of the lini liy ries, ,t When the leg is retracted, ,theefiective 7' lengthgoftline 8 2,is shortened causingthe arrn related to elles' t i t tact d he a tt e s xtende the'arrn is free to beextended as .clearly,,shown in Fig;

1 of the drawin'gs The" column tGprovidedi-n, the. structure, is located centrallyfthereof and is an elongate, .vertically; disposed Sil'llC", tuigeextending up fro'rn thelhub l4iof ba'se D to the meansn E. T'In'jthe caseillustrated the means G includes a lowerZ section, fixe'd to, jor .carried by', the hub M toproject .upward therefrom, and it has .an upper ,section 2o slidably related to the section, .25, ,and, also} slidably related to the; cylindenfifl-of means 19,whic'l 1 isanelernent of nieans E 'jj rbushi h e st uc io t as h ss,,. .e.- a j ste Z broader aspects of theLinvention, any suitable lock conv.

struction can be emplgyed in carrying ont the, invention. In the'i'case illustrateithe several ,l'ock means included in the structure aretalilteand each includes longitudinally spacedchannels 90' in the"exteri'or'of Tthe innermost of two adjacentisections; a recess or counterbore91in the"; end'portion of 'theotlrer :or outer section, 'splitt rings '92 in the channels 90"and extending into "the" counterbo're 91;

and a retainer 'or'clamp' ring 93=threaded on the 'outer section and -retainingthe"structure assembled as clearly illustrated in Fig. 10." With'fithe" constructionjust "described the clamp collar"93'-canbejoperated to clamp thesplitrings 92between the shoulder 94 "at the inner end ofthe 'counterbore and -the shoulder "95' formed by the-head 96 of the clamp ring. Toengage-thelock'meansi1lu'strated,- the sections are moved relative to "each other to a point-where'the grooves --90are-exposed whereupon the rings 92 are inserted --in the grooves 90 following which the sections-are moved so-thatthe parts are related as shown in Fig: "10, whereupon -the clamp collar 93 -is threaded into place Ito-clamp -the construction with the elements assembled--tightly as shown in Fig; 10.

In carrying-outthe? present- ;invention; various -acces-- sories or modifications-can be included,-forinstance if desired, suitable spring supported-wheels 98 may-be -ineluded or in connection with,==say, the arms or baseD so that the structure is free to be'rolled fronrplace to place except when loaded.-

With theconstruction provided by the invention,=when thetapparatus is not in use, for instance, when it is 10 be stored, or transportedgthe legs:A maybe-collapsed or retracted;.inHwhichnevent the column G is likewise -retracted and the arms of the base are retracted all with the-result rthat .the. structure as a whole is compactand takesv but a limited space. When: the construction is dc:- sired for. use, the means-JP 'JiS setzor. engaged, connectingthelines-from the legs With-the member 18 of means E. Means E can then be voperated with: the :result that thetlcgs; are extended, all ofxwhichresults in extension of the column. G andgtheiarms ofathe-base-may be ex-. tended. In carrying outtheinvention, groovescrnchanv t nels1 ,90 can -beprovided sat-variouspoints along the sec-. t

tions included-in the:structure-so ;that,-tif .idesiredgthepi structure can;belocked inwariousudegreeS :of extension,

as w lsbet pn rent omz c nsi at ot-z e -:d ew-- ings Assuming the legs hadbeeni perated by the means i E actingthroughthemeans F a's-byone or ,moretactions as may be necessary, the lock means included throughout the,structureiare preferably set or engaged thus. estab-W lishing the legs thephead and thebase as a rigid fixed support ,carrying'themeans In this case the support may begused in theforni thus established without anyfurther operationghowever, "if desired or if necessary, with thefstructure thusset cup in fixed form,.thejmeans E can beoperated whenever desired so that the. member.

18 operates vertically thus servingto act as a jack or lift;

With'the construction provided by'the present invention, a load carrier support is provided which may, in practice, be of substantial size. while at the same time. being of ,simple, inexpensiveconstruction and being such that, when not in service, itpan be collapsed into a limited space.

Having-described only a typical-preferred form and application of my invention,- I do not wish to be limited or restrictedto the specific details herein. set forth, but wish to reserve to myself-any variations or modifications that may'appear' to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope ofthe following claims.-

Having described my-invention, I, claim:

1. A- supportincluding,-- a head, a plurality of legs. connectedto and; projecting-from the head, each leg having'a plurality of telescopically related sections movable relative m-to'each *otherl-ongitudinallyof the leg, a flexible lineanchoredto the upper-end portion of each sectionbelowthetwo uppermost sections and having a first portioncxtend-ing downto and around a part at the lower-end portionof thenext higher section and a second portion extending up fronrsaid part and anchored to the section above saidmerrthighersection, a line anchored to the upper end portion of-the section adjacentthe uppermostsecti-on and extending'around apart at the lower end portion o-ftheuppermcst section'and then from'the upper endaofthe f uppermost =section,-a 'fiuid pressure actuated means carried-by-the*headand-adapted to operate the" linesextending from the upper ends of the uppermost leg -sections,----and-'--a base havingradially projecting arms each-connected to aleg and including a plurality of relatively movable sections, and lines-anchored to the base and connected to the legsto be operated thereby and being adapted to. operate IhUBIIDS'Qf the base.

2. A support including, a head, a plurality of legs connected :Jto randnprojecting from 'thehead, each leg havingia plurality oftelescopically related sections movable. relative-to :eachxother:longitudinally of the leg, a

flexible .line anchoredto the upper-end portion of eachsection:below:thegtwo=uppermost sections and having a first; portiongextendingrdown to and around a part at the lower end portionsof the next higher section and a second portion ,extendingmpifromzsaidpart and anchored to the section above said nextihighcrsectiom a line anchored to the .vuppcr end zportiontof t-he section adjacent the uppermost-section and ;-extending around a part at the lower endnportion of -the tuppennostzsection and then from the upper. .endof the uppermostxsectiomza fluid pressure actu ated means carried bywtheihead.and adapted to operate the lines extendingfrom theiupperends of the uppermostleg sections,andr abase having-a hub, armszincluding a plurality of telescopicallytrelated sections-carried by and projecting radially-.trom rthe ghub and connected to the. L legs, and control,linesanehoredat thehub and-extendim i. longitudinallyof thearm-sand, connected to the legsaand operated thereby.

3. A support including, a head, a plurality of legs COIl-: nected to andprojectingfrom the head, each leg having,

a plurality of telescopically related sections movable IElfl'.

tive to each otherlongitudinally-of the leg, a flexible,

line anchored to the upper vend portion of-each section below the twouuppermost-sections andv having a firstportion ,extending down to and around,;-a part at the lowerend portion: ;of the .next ...higher section and. a. second, portion extending up from said part and anchored to the.- sectionabove said next highensection,-a, line anchored to asms'ra the upper end portion of the section adjacent the uppermost section and extending around a part at the lower end portion of the uppermost section and then from the upper end of the uppermost section, a fiuid pressure actuated means carried by the head and adapted to operate the lines extending from the upper ends of the uppermost leg sections, a base having a hub, longitudinally adjustable arms carried by and projecting radially from the hub and connected to the legs, and control lines anchored at the hub and extending longitudinally of the arms and connected to the legs and operated thereby, and a verti- 10 cally adjustable column carried by the hub and extending therefrom to the fluid pressure actuated means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I ew 

